Trips off Sanibel Island: What's worth it and What's not

A few years ago,  we wrote a post about leaving Sanibel to tour Naples.

Only  a little over an hour away, we noted that Naples is a very different experience than our small Island.  It's towering Royal Palms as well as the multi-colored buildings in the architecture of old Italy are charming draws.

And the abundance of good restaurants will feed you in many ways.  Some are opulent, some are ethnic and some are simply unique,  defying description.

But this post will go beyond and before Naples to highlight some destinations and activities that are worth the drive.

Now this gets sensitive, because we realize that some of the joys of Island living have distinct nuances, difficult to find off island.  Yet, these spots have their own charms that you can not duplicate on our barrier paradise.

Sanibel offers a look backward with its "old town"  on the east end of the island near the Sanibel Lighthouse. Historically, it was the center of much of the island’s activity; today, it is a place to stroll quaint village shops, inns and restaurants. The Sanibel Historical Society has produced a walking and biking tour to “yesteryear” that is approximately 2 ½ miles long. But if you want another view of "times of old" the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers may deliver great satisfaction. These very special estates contain a historical museum and 17 acre botanical garden on the adjacent sites of the winter homes of Thomas Alva Edison and Henry Ford beside the Caloosahatchee River in southwestern Florida.

Similarly,  while Sanibel has a lovely pier where fishermen gather; the long pier in Naples is a focal point for not only fisherman and the flocks of pelicans waiting for their dinner, but for a wide variety of residents and visitors as well.  In fact, the Naples Fishing Pier is one of the prime attractions in a town packed with attractions.   Originally built in 1888 as a freight and passenger dock, the Naples Pier stands as a community landmark. Narrow gauge train rails spanning the length of the pier transported freight and baggage in the early 1900’s. Part of the structure as well as the post office located on the Naples Pier was razed by fire in 1912. Rebuilt after damage by hurricanes in 1910, 1926 and 1960, it remains a public symbol of the area’s history.

And while there is no doubt that one can find anything they want in the shops on Sanibel, if shopping is your thing, there are a couple of spots off island that will make you happy you invested in a rental car.  The Tanger Outlet immediately off island will offer you and your family so many nice shops, all together, where bargains galore can be found.  In addition,  downtown Ft. Myers has undergone an amazing renaissance in just the last two or three years.   For a nostalgic flare, the streets have been repaved with brick. Mom-and-pop shops rule. And nightlife options are buoyed by an exploding culinary scene. There's also an Art Walk the first Friday of each month, a Music Walk the third Friday of each month and a year-round Farmers Market every Thursday. And if shopping is your middle name, head to Coconut Point in Estero where the shops are lovely and the mall is laid out like a park, tropicality blooming everywhere.

In fact, given the number of options off Island, you might want to consider a month's stay so you can see them all!